Fractionating plate construction



Jul 31 1945,

P. LAMBERT ETAL FRAGT IONA'IING PLATE CONSTRUCTIbN Filed June 22, 1942 v a v X. 7

w. H a, a

immoral-camped QPatented July 31, 1945 v rascnonsmn run Pierre mm New new. I.

- Pleasant-ville, and

N. Y. nines! Lununhs New York, N. Yr. a

sdlneldfl', NM Company,

Delaware application June a ms,

4 ch me (Cl. sci-n4) This invention to a fractionation apparatus and more especially to an apron type downpipe for dist-11511 8 liquid 1mm a bubble deck in a distillation column.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a simplified construction 01' bubbleplate u downcomer io'r distillation columns, down which the liquid can flow wthout eddies or surge and with a smoothness such that loam will not'form and the vapors will be released.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form or bubble plate construction for a apron is provided in lieu oi the conventional downcomer pipes to reduce pressure drop between plates and to provide adequate liquid-flow area.

A still iurther object of the invention is to provide a series or standard toms of apron downpipe units for lame distillation columns in whichsimilarimltscanbeusedonsubstantislly all sizes of colmnns.

l 'u'rth'er objects ventionrwill appoarfi-om the-following descriptiion of a pretened form embodiment thereof taken inoonnectlonwiththe-attached drawing illustrative thereof, and in which:

showninl'imhand rip. (and areperspecflveviewsolmodifled Inseeordsncewiththepreferredi'ormotem- 'bodimentfottheinventlomthecohnnnortowerllisatypiesli'ractiouatinxcohunnandhprovidedwith aserles ottrlnsversehbbletrays I2 havinsaseriesofbubblecallllbthroufliwhich theasoendinl vapors pass, such trays belnq' adaptedtccarryabodyotliquidextendmlsbqve themmsottheespsssthe IImavbe-ormdesiredm we ufleularlyps'efertorieandhaveshma' tormoteonstruotioninwhichthebubblecaptray is famed in-polygoml sectloln indiand advantages or cons-murmur:

Serial-No. is I in the, cope'ndin: application of John ,A. Gibb.

I Serial Number 404.100. tiled July :1, 1m.

. the sideseals, due to distillation column in which adownpipe with a construction oi this type, it isnecessary v to provide tor the continued movement of the liquid downwards through the column as the vapors pass throudh' the bubble caps on each deck. and

for this purpose, we'prelerto use an apron i'orm of downplpe :enerally indicated at It. which is adapted to be sealed l2 and to the vertical sides oi the column. For the special construction or our apron downpipe, we are able touse vertical strips", which are suitably welded to the columnssshowninrig.2,suchstrips extending laterally inward. The? are suitably provided I with bolt holes, to which the sides 0! the do'wnflow apron ll can-be attached bysuitable bolts standard as possible,

- tern expense '-iooent tray to maximum amount oi extendina through the bolt holes: I.

With-the larger columns, it is desirable to build thednwnflow apron in sections, which are as near so that the minimum patis involved, and iorithis' purpose, we

provide sideuniis as shown at Ila and lib in Fig. 2.

A typical inside downflow' apron unit is particularly shown at provided with an' I v portion II, aniupper apron section 2|, a central section II, and a lower apron section It, the oilset amount being sumcient toclear the subhubblecs n It'willbenotedthattheinside apron downis provided with thelaterslly e portions It, by which it is to. an adjacent portion. and it made liq i -Bah bubble support channel II as 1. The weir supportlnl flange II oarryim the weir plate 21, which to the upper pal-tot the deck v standard inside and standard outupstanding weir supporting" alsopruvidedwithasupportingiianze II which hels t tqprovide-the necesdeck.

asso,

wardinthesectionll,itultimatelyemagesthe oflset apron portion 22, but at this point the vapors eroes-sectional. the apron portion 28 is sui'dcient tage, in that a tight isreadily made between the vertical edges of the apron downpipe .and the tower on the sides, and between the apron downpipe and the bubble cap along the supporting edge. The construction is readily made of standard size units which are readily used in different size towers, it necessary with small variations only to change the size of the vertical sealing strips ll.

With some size constructions, it may be suflicient to eliminat the inside sections 166, or it may be appropriate with larger units to include a plurality oi the intermediate sections "a as well as the outer sections lib to form th apron down- Pipe.

Itis'also possible with this construction to provide the optimum cross-sectional arrangement to meet the conditions of gas entrained in the' liquid. Usually it is found preferable to provide a cross-sectional areadefined by the lower pordownpipe, for at the lower section the vapor bubbles entrapped in the overflowing liquid are com- I pletely free if the velocity of the liquid has been sufficiently low-to permit this action.

Modifled'forms of construction are shown in Figs. 4 and 5, it being noted that in Fig. 4 the apron downpipe ii) is a single unit construction which would be adaptable for small columns and,

therefore, is provided with marginal flanges II,

which are directly attachable to the vertical sealingstripsiB.

In Fig. 5 the unit ,sections 42' are similar to those shown in Fig. 3, it'being noted that two or more sections may be secured together and attached to the sealing strips II by suitable vertical angles 43.

In each case, substantially vertical sealing porthefuil depthottheapron-body havinganuppermarginproiecting aboveanedge ofabubbledecktocompriseaweir'structuraa horizontal supporting flange overlapping the margin of said deck edge, side margins overlapping the said supp rting strips. and a portion between said sidemargins belled toward the adjacent wall of the tower to afford space for a subiacent bubble deck and cap assembly adjacent the lower margin of the apron body; releasable fastening means securing said apron sections together through the said angular flanges thereof; and relessable fasteningmeans securing the apron body. through said side margins thereof, to the, said supporting strips. i

2. In a fractionating tower, an apron downpi construction includlnga pairof vertical support-- ing strips spaced around and projecting inwardly from the inner wall of the tower and rigid 1 therewith; and an apron body extendin downtion of the downpipe, which is approximately onea hall of that defined by the upper portion of the wardly from an edge of a bubble deck and comprising a panel formed of a plurality of sections in edgewise opposition in succession across the apron and having angular flanges along their-opot the sections, each of said sections extending the full depth of the apron and said body having posed edges secured together to form a rigid body side margins overlapping and secured to the said supporting strips, and a portion between said side margins belled toward the adjacent wall of the ,tower to aflord space for a subiacent bubble deck and capassembly adjacent the lower margin of V the apron body.

3. In a fractions-ting tower having an upper bubble deck and a lower bubble deck, an apron downpipe construction including a pair of vertical supporting strips spaced around and project 40 rigid therewith; an apron body extending down- Y wardly from an edgeof said upper deck toward the level of said-lower deck 'andcomprising a 'panel formed of a' plurality of plate-like sections in edgewise opposition in succession horizontally tions exist on the outermost edges of the apron downpipe so that the seal with the inner wall of thetower is accomplished by engagement with a similar vertical strip. This makes" it possible to form the apron downpipe sections externally of the column and have them flt tight when as semblui' even though they have a downwardly and Q outwardly extending section to reduce the flow Whi1e'we have shown and described preferred forms of embodiment'of our invention, we are aware that modifications may be .made thereto. and we, therefore, desire a broad interpretation ing inwardly from the inner wall of the tower and across the apron and having angular flanges alon their opposed edges and, abutting in succession acm the apronbody, each ofsaid sections ex'-. tending the full depth of the apron body, and said body having vertically straight side margins overlapping and secured to said supportingstrips. and

a lower portioniaetween said side margins' belled toward the adjacent wall of the tower for clearonce from the lower bubble deck and cap assemw bly; and series of releasable fastening elements respectively securing said side margins to said .strip's and said abutting-flanges to eachother,

the upper portions of said abutting flanges, 'located above said belled portion, projecting outwardly toward-the wall-0t the tower for access to the upper fastening elements or the flanges.

through the space between the apronbody and the tower wall, and the lower portions of the flanges, along said belled portion, projecting inofour invention within the scope and spirit of the description herein and of the claims appended hereinafter.

We claim: v l

1.- In a fractiona'ting tower, an apron downpipe construction including a pair of vertical supporting strips spaced around and projecting inwardtherew'ith; an apron comprisinga panel formed of a plurality of sections in edgewise 01 position in succession horizontally across thely from the inneriwall oi. the tower and'rigid' wardlyfor access to the lower fastening elements throughthespace between the decks. I I 4. In a tractionating tower having an upper bubble deck and slower bubble deck, an apron downpipe construction including a pair of vertical supporting stripsv spaced around and .projecting inwardly from the inner wall of the tower .and rigid therewith; an apron body extending downwardly from an edge'oi. said upper deck toward the level of said lower deck and comprising a panel. formed-of a plurality of plate-like sew apron and having angular flanges along their tions in edgewise opposition in succession horiopposededges, each of said sectlons-ertendingzontally across the apron and formed with ans ular flanges along their opposed edges and abuting strips, and a lower portion between said side margins belied toward the adjacent wall of the tower for clearance from the lower bubble deck and cap assembly; and series of releasable fasten- Patent 116. 2,380,8 2.

PIERRE LAMBERT; ET'AL.

CERTIFICATE or coRBEcrIon; v

for access to theupper fastening elements ofthe flanges through the space between the apron body and the tower wall, and the lower portions of the flanges, along said belied portion, projecting in-- wardly for access to the lower fastening elemen through the space between the decks.

PIERRE LAMBERT RALPH H. RIEMENSCHNEIDER. JOHN A. GIBB.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 25, claim 2; strike out syllable "013-" and insert instead "opposed edges secured together to. form arigid body line 28, sameciaim, strike out "posed edges secured'to gether to form a rigid body"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein T A that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Dff1q Q Signed and'sealedthis day of November, A. i). -l9).|.$

(Seai) Leslie-Frazer First Assistant Commissioner of Patents;

zontally across the apron and formed with ans ular flanges along their opposed edges and abuting strips, and a lower portion between said side margins belied toward the adjacent wall of the tower for clearance from the lower bubble deck and cap assembly; and series of releasable fasten- Patent 116. 2,380,8 2.

PIERRE LAMBERT; ET'AL.

CERTIFICATE or coRBEcrIon; v

for access to theupper fastening elements ofthe flanges through the space between the apron body and the tower wall, and the lower portions of the flanges, along said belied portion, projecting in-- wardly for access to the lower fastening elemen through the space between the decks.

PIERRE LAMBERT RALPH H. RIEMENSCHNEIDER. JOHN A. GIBB.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, second column, line 25, claim 2; strike out syllable "013-" and insert instead "opposed edges secured together to. form arigid body line 28, sameciaim, strike out "posed edges secured'to gether to form a rigid body"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein T A that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Dff1q Q Signed and'sealedthis day of November, A. i). -l9).|.$

(Seai) Leslie-Frazer First Assistant Commissioner of Patents; 

